Dorothy Chadwell

Dorothy DeArmond Chadwell, 95, passed peacefully in her home on June 23, 2022.

Dorothy was born on September 14, 1926, to Walter and Nellie (Pittman) DeArmond on Wild Cherry Farm east of Seymour.

She, along with her older brother Gene, led an idyllic childhood, surrounded by their loving parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She graduated from Seymour High School in 1944 and went to Southwest Missouri State Teacher’s College in Springfield, intent on becoming a journalist. However, after she completed two years of college, the Seymour School system needed a teacher, so Dorothy became a teacher. She finished her bachelor’s degree on weekends, nights, and summers. She was with her first class, 46 third graders, from the time they arrived in the morning until the second bus departed in the afternoon. “We had fun,” she said.

On June 8, 1952, Dorothy married Scotty Chadwell, of Mountain Grove, who was in the Air Force. His career took them to Scott Field, Illinois; Athens, Greece; Lincoln, Nebraska and Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. During this time, they were blessed with a daughter, Vanessa, and a son, Scott. Dorothy continued teaching in Illinois and Nebraska.

On Scotty’s retirement in 1965, the family moved back to Dorothy’s beloved hometown. When their son, Scott, started school Dorothy returned to teaching. In 1975, she received her Master of Education from Drury University. Her teaching career extended for a total of 37 years. She taught multiple generations and fondly remembered each of her students.

Dorothy was very interested in preserving the history of her hometown, participating in the publication of two books. She was involved in the Seymour library and was an avid gardener. She was a long-time member of the Seymour First Baptist Church. Dorothy lived her faith each day of her life.

Above all, she was a devoted, patient, and loving mother and grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Scotty, who passed in 2014, her parents, and brother, Gene.

She is survived by daughter, Vanessa Amelunke and son-in-law, Mark, of The Woodlands, Texas; son, Scott, of Seymour; granddaughter, Sarah Osborn and husband, Ryan, of Bentonville, Arkansas; grandson, Josh Amelunke, of Houston, Texas; and new great-granddaughter, MacKenzie Osborn. She is also survived by nephew, Bill DeArmond and wife, Rosemary of Wildwood, Missouri; niece Maria Mingos and husband, Steve, of Shawnee Mission, Kansas; cousin, Frank DeArmond of Seymour, as well and many other family members, students, and friends.

The family is forever indebted to Dorothy’s loving caregivers, Sarah, Robin, Sherry, Blanche, and Polly, who became family members and allowed Dorothy to remain in the home she and Scotty built in 1965.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Seymour History Museum in care of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, 214 West Clinton Avenue, Seymour, Missouri 65746.